Improvement in piano-forte repeating-actions



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` 3 Sheena-Sheen 2 C. F. T.` STEINWAY. Pianoforte Repeating Action.

8 SheetsSneet S O. F. T. STEINWAY. Pianoforte Repeating Action.

me We l UNITED STATES PATENT OEEIGE.

OHRISTIABT F. T. STEINlVAY, OF NEW' YORK, N. Y., ASSIGNOR TO IIIMSELF AND IYILLIAM STEINVAY, OF SAME PLACE.

IMPROVEMENT IN PIANO-FORTE REPEATING-ACTIONS.

Specification forming part of Letters Intent No. 205,696, dated July 2, lSS; application liled .lune 5, 1873.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, CHRIsTIAN FRIEDRICH THEODOR STEINWAY, ofthe city, county, and State of New York, have invented a new and useful Improvement in Repeating-Actions for Piano-Fortes, which improvement is fully set forth in the following specification, reference being had to the accompanying drawing, in which- Figure 1 represents a sectional side view of my piano-forte action when the hammer is at rest. Fig. 2 is a similar view when the key has been depressed and the hammer rebounded from the string. Fig. 3 is a similar view when the key has been allowed to rise a short distance from its lowest position. Fig. 4 is a section of the corrugated elastic tongue on an enlarged scale.

Similar letters indicate correspon din g parts.

My invention consists in the combination, with the ordinary shoulder on the hammerbutt in a piano-forte action, of an extra nose and a tongue oi' elastic and flexible material secured directly to the end of said nose, and adapted by its own adherent elasticity to produce a continuous escapement, saidparts being constructed and arranged as will befullyhereinafter set forth.

My invention also consists in the combination, withthe nose projeetin g from the hammerA buttina piano-forte action, of an elastic tongue, formed of corrugated indiarubber, and spanning the recess between said nose and the ordinary shoulder of the hamIner-butt. In the example shown in the drawingsrlv,

have shown the action of an upright piano forte provided with my improvement.

Many inventions have been made for the purpose of producing a quick repetition on the action of an uprightpiano-forte. Forinstance, a balance-lever has been used which can be regulated by means ot' springs and set-screws, and which swings on a centerpin attached directly to the hammer; but this device is objeetionable on account ot' the rattling noise produced by the strong vibrations of the hammer.

In another invention repetition balancelevers are applied independently of the hammer, which can be done with good advantage on horizontal piano-fortes, but which becomes complicated and ineffective when applied to upright piano-fortes, since in such actions the smallest swelling or shrinking ofthe wood or of the leather parts is not compensated by any counter-weight, the weight in such hammers being almost evenly balanced.

My escapement is very simple and cheap. It can be readily applied to the hammer, and it is just as durable as the leather or felt mounting on the hammer.

In the example shown in the drawing, the letter A designates the hammer of an upright piano-forte, the butt B of which is provided with a shoulder, a, against which acts the j ack O, said shoulder being covered with leather in the ordinary manner. Opposite to the shoulder a is a nose, b, which extends from the hammenbutt, and the face of which is in line, or nearly so, with a line drawn through the fulcrum-pin f ofthe hammer and through the face of the shoulder, and at such a distance from said fulcrum-pin that the shoulder t is about in the middle between the two.

On the face of the nose l) is secured an elastic tongue, c, which extends close to the shoulder a., and bridges over the recess d between it and the nose b.

The tongue c may be made of any suitable flexible and elastic material, but I prefer to use a strip of corrugated india-rubber, the ribs of the stripbeing at such a distance apart that the strip on each hammer contains three ribs.

Then the key is struck the jack O, by its action on the shoulder a, throws the hammer against the string, and as the hammer rebounds the jack, in sliding off from the shoulder a., bears against theloose end ofthe tongue c and forces the same back into the recess d, as shown in Fig. 2.

As soon as the pressure on the key ceases and the back jack D clears the haInmer-butt the elastic tongue c assumes a horizontal position and the hammer is raised to the position shown in FiO. 3, giving to the jack C an uninterrupted eseapement.

The elasticity of the tongue c is easily regua lated my inakiugincisious into one, two, or three of its ribs, whereby said ribs are either rendered entirely inactive or their elasticity is 'reduced to the required degree.

tic and flexible material secured directly to the end of said nose, and adapted by its own inherent elasticity to produce a continuous escapernent, when constructed and arranged substantially as herein shown and described.

2. The combination, with the hammer-butt in a piano-forte action, of a corrugated strip of india-rubber, provided with two or more ribs, and arranged substantially as and for the purpose set forth.

In testimony that I claim the foregoing I have hereunto set my hand and seal this 3d day of June, 1878.

C. F. THEODOR STEINWAY.

Witnesses:

,W. HAUFF, E. F. KAsTENHUBER.

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